Trooper Cobb's Grave

27°28′28″S 152°58′57″E / 27.4744°S 152.9825°E / -27.4744; 152.9825Design period1900–1914 (early 20th century)Built1901ArchitectAndrew Lang PetrieOfficial nameTrooper Cobb's GraveTypestate heritage (built)Designated21 October 1992Reference no.600333Significant period1901 (fabric, historical)Significant componentssarcophagusBuildersAndrew Lang Petrie

Trooper Cobb's Grave is a heritage-listed memorial at Corner Frederick Street & Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by Andrew Lang Petrie in 1901. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.^[1]

History

This memorial was erected in 1901 in Toowong Cemetery, over the grave of Trooper John Cobb of the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, who died in July 1901 a few days after returning to Australia from active service in the South African War. He was 44 years old.^[1]

Cobb had seen action at Elands River and Rhenoster Kop in South Africa. Like all Australian troops participating in the South African War (Boer War) of 1899–1902, Cobb was a volunteer.^[1]

His grave is the only known South African War soldier's grave in Queensland. The memorial was constructed by the prominent monumental mason Andrew Lang Petrie and erected by Cobb's relatives.^[1]

Description

The gravestone is a sarcophagus of Helidon sandstone, 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) long and a metre wide.^[1]

On the top, carved in sandstone, are a rifle, hat with emu plume and badge, and a bandolier, the equipment of soldiers in the South African War. A marble plate also rests on the top, bearing an inscription in leaded letters.^[1]

The sarcophagus is enclosed by a substantial concrete wall with sandstone coping, pallstones and low iron railings. The grave had suffered from neglect but has been tidied recently. However, little of the inscription lettering survives.^[1]

Heritage listing

Trooper Cobb's Grave was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

Trooper Cobb's Grave, Toowong is significant historically as the only known grave in Queensland of a mortally wounded South African War soldier. It is a rare Queensland South African War memorial, and a unique source of historical information.^[1]

The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.

Trooper Cobb's Grave, Toowong is significant historically as the only known grave in Queensland of a mortally wounded South African War soldier. It is a rare Queensland South African War memorial, and a unique source of historical information.^[1]

References

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

External links

Media related to Trooper Cobb's Grave at Wikimedia Commons